Page 36 - Odisha

BJP will fight 2024 elections on its own in Odisha: Bhupender Yadav

The BJP will fight the 2024 elections in Odisha on its own, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Saturday, dismissing speculations about an alliance with the state's ruling BJD. Speculations were rife about a possible alliance between the two parties after the BJD backed the BJP on the opposition's no-confidence motion in Parliament and the Delhi services bill that entails the creation of an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in the national capital. The speculations were further fuelled by a one-on-one meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here last week on the sidelines of official engagements. The two parties were in an alliance from 2000 to 2009. Yadav, a senior BJP leader who is also the Union environment minister, was here to attend a function on World Elephant Day. Asked by reporters about the speculations, he firmly ruled out any possibility of alliance between the BJP and BJD. He said the BJP will fight

Odisha extends social security scheme for elderly, widows, others

The Odisha government Monday announced extension of its social security scheme for the elderly, widows and other vulnerable sections, adding over 4 lakh more beneficiaries, officials said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sanctioned the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana' benefits for additional 4.13 applicants, the official said. The decision was based on the feedback received from people during the CMO's outreach programme, he said. The reach of the scheme has been enhanced to 32.75 lakh beneficiaries from 28.61 lakh beneficiaries. The newly sanctioned recipients will get their first pension amount on August 15 in presence of elected representatives, the official said. Under the scheme, beneficiaries including the elderly, widows, persons with disabilities, unmarried women, AIDS patients, transgender persons and orphan children of COVID-affected families receive Rs 500, Rs 700 and Rs 900 per month under different categories.

Odisha floods: Shortage of drinking water as inundated roads halt tankers

People affected by Odisha floods said they were facing an acute shortage of potable water and many were forced to drink floodwater after boiling it, while others feared consumption of it may cause water-borne diseases. The government, on the other hand, said it was sending water tankers to the flood-hit areas but those affected said the vehicles were not able to reach them as roads have been inundated in the deluge. Though the water levels in major rivers have come down, 75 more villages came under the grip of the deluge. A total of 6.24 lakh people have been affected in 11 districts, according to an official report on Sunday. The affected people have taken shelter in nearby schools which are surrounded by floodwaters. "My house and tube wells in our area remain submerged in floodwaters. We do not have access to potable drinking water. We are boiling floodwater and drinking it," said 68-year-old Kalandi Barik of Santhapada village in Rajnagar block of Kendrapara district. Like Ba

Sec 144 imposed after mob set police station on fire in Odisha's Kandhamal

Heavy deployment of police of around 20 platoons with DVF and CRPF besides BSF in the spot

Important day: Pradhan ahead of event for redevelopment of railway stations

Earlier, on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the redevelopment to be done at a cost of almost Rs 25,000 crore will revolutionise how rail infrastructure is imagined in the nation

Shah suggests Odisha to train people to handle chemical, nuclear disasters

Appreciating Odisha government's skill in handling natural calamities like cyclones and floods, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Saturday suggested to the state administration to train Aapda Mitras and disaster warriors in handling chemical and nuclear disasters. He advised that the Aapda Mitras and disaster warriors in the state be imparted multi-disaster training in handling chemical and nuclear disasters as they hit without any warning. The union minister also suggested that home guard volunteers be also trained in disaster response. Shah made the suggestions here while reviewing the disaster management and left-wing extremism (LWE) situation in Odisha, in which state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the union home secretary and senior officers of the ministry of home affairs and the state government attended the meeting. Aapda Mitras are trained disaster response volunteers working at the taluka or block level in various states. Thanking the state government's initiative in disaste

Fight against corruption in BJD govt: Amit Shah asks Odisha BJP leaders

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday held closed-door meetings with BJP leaders in Odisha and urged them to "expose corruption and irregularities" in the Naveen Patnaik government in the state, a saffron party functionary said. Shah's appeal to his party leaders comes hours after he praised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, hailing him for becoming the CM five times in a row. His message to the BJP leaders also comes days after Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal said it would support the bill replacing the Delhi services ordinance and oppose the no-confidence motion proposed by various opposition parties against the NDA government at the Centre. The home minister urged BJP leaders in Odisha to strengthen the party's organisation at the booth level and to "expose corruption and irregularities" in the state government, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal told reporters here. Shah also advised the party leaders to take up local issues and remain connected with the people to solve their ...

Amit Shah praises CM Patnaik for containing naxal violence in Odisha

In the backdrop of Odisha's ruling BJD announcing its opposition to the no-confidence motion against the NDA government at the Centre, BJP stalwart and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday called Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as "popular" and hailed him for becoming the CM for five times in a row. Shah, who in 2019 had referred the BJD government as a "jala hua transformer" (burnt out transformer), while sharing dais with Patnaik in an official programme said, "Patnaik has created the record of becoming the chief minister of Odisha for five times in a row. He is a popular chief minister." Shah, who is considered as the No. 2 in the central government as well as in the ruling BJP, apparently missed no opportunity to praise Patnaik. The Union minister also praised the chief minister and the BJD government for the decline in naxal violence and Maoist influence in the state. "Odisha government and Naveen Babu have always supported the Centre to combat naxals," Shah said, adding th

HM Shah, CM Patnaik launch national highway projects in Odisha

Paying rich tributes to freedom fighter and Bharat Ratna Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi on his death anniversary, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated the much awaited four-laning of Kamakshyanagar-Duburi section of National Highway-53 on EPC (Procurement and Construction) mode here in presence of Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Shah, who was here on a two-day tour to this eastern state, started his programme with a tribute to Bordoloi and credited him as the person for whom the entire northeast region is now part of India. Bordoloi, who was the first chief minister of Assam, made immense contribution to keep the northeast region as an integral part of India, Shah said. While thanking the state government and Odisha's popular chief minister Naveen Patnaik, the Union home minister said the Centre has spent Rs 761 crore for four-laning the 51km national highway connecting Kamakshyanagar and Duburi. "This road will link the mineral rich Angul and Dhenkanal districts

HM Amit Shah arrives in Odisha for day-long visit, to chair meetings

A day after Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) extended support to the Centre on the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shaht arrived in Bhubaneswar on Friday late night for a day-long visit.The contentious Delhi Services Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday by a voice vote, amid an Opposition walkout.During his visit to the state, Shah is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various development projects in the city.Shah was received warmly at the Bhubaneswar airport by leaders of the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as party workers.Taking to Twitter, the office of the Home Minister posted, "Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri @AmitShah Ji will Inaugurate & lay the foundation stone of various projects in Bhubaneswar, tomorrow at 11:00 AM".The inauguration ceremony is scheduled to be held at a convention centre, Lok Seva Bavan.The BJD had earlier announced its ...

Amit Shah to visit Odisha, to hold meetings on left-wing extremism

Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah is scheduled to pay a two-day visit to Odisha from Friday, during which he will attend official meetings. Shah will reach the Biju Patnaik International Airport here at 10.40 pm on Friday and launch a national highway project the next day, officials said. He is also slated to attend meetings on left-wing extremism and disaster management on Saturday. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is likely to attend the meeting, they said. There is, however, no official confirmation about a possible meeting between Shah and Patnaik. But Shah is scheduled to attend a meeting at the airport lounge before leaving for the national capital on Saturday evening, the officials said but did not specify who would be present in it. The union minister's sudden visit and his review meetings on left-wing extremism and disaster management assume significance as these will take place after the ruling BJD announced its support to the Delhi Ordinance Bill and its

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Centre gives nod to change of names of four villages, 1 railway station

The central government has given its nod to change the name of a railway station in Odisha and four villages, three of whom belong to Rajasthan, officials said. The no objection certificate (NOC) has been given to change the name of revenue village "Khimawaton ka Khera" as "Khimsinghji ka Khera" in Kanod tehsil of Udaipur district, "Bengti Kala" village as "Bengti Harbuji' in Phalodi tehsil in Jodhpur district and "Bhundvaa" village as "Bhandavpura" in Sayla tehsil in Jalore district. All these villages belong to Rajasthan. The NOC has also been given to the change of name of 'Amanullapur' village as Jamuna Nagar in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district. The home ministry gave its nod to change of name of "Ratnagiri Road railway station" as "Udayagiri-Ratnagiri Road railway station" in Haridaspur-Paradip, in Khordha division in Odisha. The home ministry gives its consent to the change of name of any place or station after taking no-objections from the Ministry of Railways, Department o

NLC plans to set up 2,400 MW thermal plant in Odisha for Rs 19,422 crore

NLC India Ltd is planning to set up a 2,400 MW coal-based plant in Odisha. The plant will be set up at an investment of Rs 19,422 crore at Talabira in Odisha, the Ministry of Coal said in a statement on Wednesday. "NLC has planned a 3x800 MW thermal plant in Odisha. This is a pithead thermal plant near Talabira coal mines of NLC with a project cost of Rs 19,422 crore," it said. On the status of the project, the ministry said the land acquisition and other related clearances are at an advanced stage. It is expected that work on the project will commence by the end of this year and will be completed by 2028-29, according to the statement. The plant will supply 1,450 MW of power to Tamil Nadu, 100 MW to Puducherry and 400 MW to Kerala, the ministry said. Tamil Nadu-based NLC, under the Ministry of Coal, operates three opencast lignite mines with a total installed capacity of 30 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) at Neyveli. Besides, it has an opencast lignite mine at Barsingsar in Raj

Heavy to very heavy rainfall likely over west Odisha in next 24 hours: IMD

Meanwhile, locals caught fish at the inundated National Highway 57 in the Boudh area after ponds of the fisheries department got flooded following heavy and continuous rainfall

Coal India plans two thermal plants with Rs 21,547 crore investment

State-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) is planing to set up two thermal plants with an investment totaling Rs 21,547 crore in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, an official statement said on Wednesday. While one project is planned near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, the other is at Sundergarh district, in Odisha. "CIL has planned to set up two thermal power plants. One is being set up as a joint venture with the Madhya Pradesh government near Amarkantak," the Ministry of Coal said. It will be a 1 x 660 MW plant at an estimated cost of Rs 5,600 crore, the Ministry said adding the project is in advanced stages of approval. South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL), a subsidiary of CIL, will invest Rs 857 crore as equity in the project to be implemented in a joint venture between SECL and Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Ltd, it added. The work on the project is likely to start by the end of this financial year and is likely to be completed by 2028. The Ministry further said Mahanadi Coalfields .

Odisha discom empowers 1,000 women SHGs through sustainable livelihood

TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL) has taken a significant stride by adopting a multifold approach to promote sustainable income generation for women self-help group (WSHG) members. A statement by the company said it has undertaken various initiatives to enhance livelihood opportunities of WSHGs. Under its comprehensive CSR initiatives, TPSODL has been actively working with WSHGs formed under the Odisha Livelihood Mission and trying to improve their overall economic well-being. This initiative includes identification of potential WSHGs and farmers, providing them with extensive training and handholding support across all eight districts in southern region of the state. Till date, more than 1,000 WSHGs have been supported under TPSODL's livelihood enhancement project. These empowered members have benefited from expert-led capacity-building programmes covering a wide range of income-generation activities, the statement said. The training sessions have focused on equipp

5 including kids, killed as under-construction culvert collapses in Odisha

Five people, most of whom were children, were killed as an under-construction culvert collapsed on them in Odisha's Rayagada district on Monday, police said. The incident happened in Uparsaja village in Kalyansinghpur block when they were bathing under it. They were bathing in the rainwater that accumulated under the culvert. Among the deceased were four children, police said. A rescue team, comprising personnel of the fire service and police, was working to clear the debris, they said. Police said they suspect that more people might be trapped under the debris.

Global chip design leader Synopsys to set up its centre in Bhubaneswar

The delegation highlighted how the state's Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy, which has received Cabinet approval, offers the most generous set of incentives

Nestle to invest Rs 4,200 cr by 2025, will set up 10th factory in Odisha

FMCG major Nestle India has strong commitments for local manufacturing with plans to invest Rs 4,200 crore by 2025, including in its 10th plant in the country at Odisha, its Chairman and Managing Director Suresh Narayanan said on Friday. Nestle India, the maker of popular Maggi noodles, KitKat chocolate and Nescafe, is investing to create capacity as it sees "fairly robust" demand in coming years in the Indian market. "The investments done are fairly significant... till the first half of 2023, about Rs 2,100 crore already been invested on capital investments," said Narayanan in a media roundtable here. These investments are for augmentation of manufacturing capacity, he said adding a third of that has gone into food space, another one-third on chocolate and confectionary and the rest on nutrition and others. "Another Rs 4,200 crore is being spent between 2023 and 2025. This includes around Rs 900 crore for a new factory in Odisha," he said. Last year in September, Mark Schneider,